NOA decries extreme sign-out practices among young school leavers

National Orientation Agency (NOA) has expressed serious concern over the extreme “sign-out” practices among young school leavers in the country, calling for active collaboration among stakeholders to address the issue.

This comes after reports that several students have lost their lives or suffered various degrees of injuries due to the dangerous practice.

Addressing the situation at a press conference in Ibadan, the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lare Issa Onilu, stressed the need for all the stakeholders to come together to proffer a lasting solution.

He said, “The idea of turning the school environment into a breeding ground for thugs and other criminal elements would no longer be tolerated.

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Issa Onilu, who spoke through the Deputy Director, Establishment and Training, Mr. Tope Adewumi, said the agency would look into the idea of reintroducing the paramilitary groups as obtainable in the past at the various schools nationwide.

He also tasked Nigerians to ignite a new spirit of patriotism, vigilance, unity, and responsibility to move the country forward.

He stressed that all these are needed to carry us into a safer, stronger, and more united Nigeria.

The Director General maintained that the agency is committed to tackling issues threatening the unity, safety, and progress of Nigeria, as recent surveys and field reports have shown gaps in awareness, harmful practices, and misinformation.

“Today marks the beginning of a two-week nationwide civic engagement drive across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory and across all 774 Local Government areas of our country. This is not just another campaign; it is a coordinated national awakening that touches the very heart of our identity, safety, values, and development,” he said.

The NOA DG added, ” Let us use these two weeks to ignite a new spirit of patriotism, vigilance, unity and responsibility that will carry us into a safer, strong and more united Nigeria. Together, we can make the values we preach, the values we live”.

” The nationwide enlightenment is not just another campaign; it is a coordinated national awakening that touches the very heart of our identity, safety, values, and development.”

Mallam Issa Onilu stressed, “The National Orientation Agency, in line with its constitutional mandate, is rolling out five thematic campaigns, designed to address some of the most pressing issues in our communities today”.

Emphasizing that Nigeria stands at a defining moment, the NOA DG said, “Our democracy thrives only when citizens are informed and actively engaged”.

“Our communities are safer when citizens are alert and cooperative. Our youth flourish when guided by the right values. Our heritage endures when we uphold our symbols and identity. Our lives and livelihoods are preserved when we prepare ahead of natural disasters.

“Yet, across the country, recent surveys and field reports have shown gaps in awareness, harmful practices, and misinformation that threaten our unity, safety, and progress. This campaign responds to those gaps “.

He, however, called on the Media, the traditional and religious leaders, civil society, student bodies, and all community stakeholders to join hands with the National Orientation Agency in the historic mobilisation.